It is an epidemic. Now, before you dash for your hazmat suit, or worse yet, your zombie KO kit, hear me out. This epidemic is one of electrifying proportions, and it involves the Jeep. Again, we are not talking about the zombie apocalypse here, and I can’t blame you for going there since a Jeep is clearly the natural option for such an event. We are talking about the all-consuming spread of the 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe.
It is difficult not to make the connection between electric vehicles and a supernatural catastrophic event; after all, they share similar patterns. Electric cars began to slowly infiltrate our sleepy hamlet. First, you might notice one on the street, intrigued but not yet infected by the urge to consume electricity. Next, a neighbor has it; now the insatiable appetite for going green is spreading until it finally… gets you! Even if you have yet to be bitten by the hybrid or EV bug, it is becoming harder and harder to avoid its draw, especially with the expansion of lines like the 4xe.
Jeep has been playing around with the hybrid idea for some time now, but the 4xe was not introduced until the 2021 model year. Even then, its availability was limited to select trims. With this latest model year, however, it is starting to feel like a full-on outbreak, in the best sense possible, of course. Six trims are now available with the hybrid drivetrain, completely changing how we view electric capability.
How Far Can You Go?
The 4xe was creating quite a buzz only a few short years ago. The idea of going off-road in a hybrid was not new, but it was and is still an exciting prospect. With an all-electric range of 25 miles, the Jeep 4xe provided new opportunities. Despite a slight drop in all-electric mileage, the latest 4xe nearly doubles its combined drive distance at 49 MPGe, up from the estimated 26 miles in 2021.
If this does not sound exciting to you, we can frame it in a new light. Imagine a hoard of zombies chasing you. Too far? Okay, but range anxiety might be just as terrifying (I said it might) and is a genuine concern. Thanks to the hybrid set-up, you are not limited to electric only or gas only and have a total estimated combined range of 370 miles.
If you are concerned about charging options, do not fret; Jeep has things covered there as well. Not only does Jeep offer a couple of home charging options, as most hybrids and EVs do nowadays, but they are taking this a step further. Jeep is leading the charge, literally, for electrified off-roading.
If you are new to Jeep’s off-road community, you are most likely new to Jeep Badge of Honor Trails. Jeep identifies worthy trails for the adventurer at heart to foster connections and build its off-road brand. These trails are some of the best for off-roading and span the nation, creating a web of thrill. Completing one of these trails earns you a specialized badge designed and distributed by Jeep, inducting you into a rather exclusive club.
Here, where these trails stretch, Jeep intends to power up the Jeep 4xe. Solar-powered charging stations provide the boost you need when exploring the trails, providing convenient access to green power. Although charging stations are becoming commonplace now, a charging station on a trail is a whole different story, and this story belongs to Jeep.
Rugged and Electrifying
Who would have guessed when the first hybrid hit the scenes that one of the best-selling plug-ins would be designed for off-roading? Off-roading and efficiency do not seem like a natural pairing, but somehow, Jeep is making it work. Looking at the 2024 4xe line-up, you wouldn’t guess the golden rays partially powered it. This lean, mean, green machine is nothing short of aggressive, and I think I can speak for most when I say we are here for it.
The look of the Jeep has remained fairly consistent over the years, with the changes being deliberate and subtle but very much there. Most notably, the 2024 has been given a revamped grille, but not just for the sake of change. Grilles are often one of the easiest ways to change up a vehicle’s looks in a dramatic way, but the new Jeep grille is far from dramatically different.
Jeep made deliberate changes to the iconic slot grille to make way for other fun changes, like the all-new WARN winch. This heavy-duty winch can pull up to 8,000 lbs when installed on the factory lines. With such capacity, the design was crucial and hinged on placement and, of course, the change-up of the grille. This new toy is a first for the Jeep and perhaps a precursor to more exciting things to come.
Beyond the Winch, each 4xe model offers a little something different. The Willys 4xe, for example, sits atop ginormous 33-inch off-road tires, which are swapped out for all-terrains on the Rubicon. With such hefty stems, not much can stand in your way. Another benefit of the Rubicon is that it also comes standard with a hardcore 4×4 system called Rock-Trak.
This is where things get a tad confusing, as Jeep offers several specialized off-road systems. Rock-Track includes a unique crawl mode, basically allowing the Rubicon to kick it down low by providing ample torque at minimal speeds for the truly serious off-roaders. The vast selection of 4×4 systems perfected by Jeep is an exciting topic all on its own, providing further proof that Jeep is the King of the rocky road.
It’s More Than a Rugged Face
The Jeep 4xe offers so much more than just capability, electric or not. There is no bare minimum here, which is another aspect that sets the Jeep Wrangler apart. Forget its highly identifiable looks or its unmatched potential, but consider the extras that make the Jeep a vehicle you want to drive.
For instance, all 2024 Wrangler 4xe models come standard with a massive 12.3-inch touchscreen in the center stack. Uconnect 5 enables you to use voice commands, access Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and so much more. For some models, Uconnect 5 Nav is the standard, adding TomTom navigation for easily integrated directions, traffic updates, and so on.
Available options take off-road luxury to the limit with Nappa leather seats, wi-fi hotspot capabilities, a premium Alpine sound system, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and even a remote-start system. An assortment of hard and soft tops and exterior and interior finishes make the Jeep so much more than a down-and-dirty off-road Bogger. The 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is a sophisticated plaything for those who desire to splash in the mud no matter how old they are.
It Is a Jeep-Ocalypse
I have been a Jeep fan long before I even realized I was. Honestly, I don’t know if I have yet encountered someone who does not appreciate the particularity of the Jeep. From its past rooted in heroism to its present stake in the future, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe is awesome. The Jeep Wrangler is this spectacular refresh of historical automotive genius, and if you are not a fan, you should reconsider because this is the future.
Jeep has been a pioneer in the off-road universe, and as we experience the latest innovation, it is difficult not to see how it will continue to change the face of off-roading. The Jeep 4xe is rounding out to be an excellent car thanks to hybrid technology and the push to embrace electrified solutions. If you still need tot, check out the 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe, and I bet you will find yourself with an insatiable appetite for all things Jeep.
